Familial love

Drane was very quiet as he sat by the windowside and watched the rain fall. It was a calm rain, little more than a sprinkling of water falling from the sky. Some may have found the rain depressing, holding them inside as captives and preventing them from doing as they wished. But Drane found it relaxing. The soft sound filled his mind and gave him peace. A peace that he had not felt in quite some time. 

It was the one year anniversary of his father's death. There had been many tears shed, and many throats made sore from the loud and heaving sobs. But none from Drane. He had not cried at his father's funeral. Nor at his mother's before that. 

Friends reached out to him frequently, attempting to give words of encouragement or offers of homes and food. But Drane had always turned them down. He did not fear loneliness, nor feel need of company. He had a job, a home, and a way of life. His parents had not been a part of that for some time. 

He had left home when he was eighteen, with hopes and dreams for his future. He had had to start low, however. And he had. Working meaningless jobs for pennies, but gaining real life experience. He proved himself and rose through the ranks until he was making enough money that he could actually put some away into savings. And he saved up so that he could afford a home. 

People would inevitably ask about the family. He would dismiss them, saying not to worry about it, that it wasn't important. They were never happy with that answer, but eventually they would learn simply not to ask. That was how it always went. 

But now, as Darne sat alone, for the first time he wondered. He wondered what life would be like if he had stayed at home. If he had not so despised his family, and if they had not despised him. People told him that with age they had changed. But was it age? Or was it that he had gone away?

If he had loved them... How would things have changed?

He was happy the way things were. 

But could he be happier?